ASK TROOPER KEITH: Two opposing vehicles turning left

A reader asked the following question: If two opposing vehicles are both turning left at an intersection, should they turn in front of each other or behind each other?

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By Trooper Disselkoen

Ionia Sentinel - Standard-Ionia, MI

By Trooper Disselkoen

Posted May. 8, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Updated May 9, 2013 at 12:13 AM

By Trooper Disselkoen

Posted May. 8, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Updated May 9, 2013 at 12:13 AM

MSP LAKEVIEW POST

A reader asked the following question: If two opposing vehicles are both turning left at an intersection, should they turn in front of each other or behind each other?

This is a great question. The practice of turning in front of each other is most common, but is it the proper way to turn? The Michigan Vehicle Code doesn’t answer this question in a direct manner. Instead, we need to look at how the Vehicle Code requires you to approach a left turn to get the answer.

MCL 257.647(b) says: "Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line in a manner as not to interfere with the progress of any streetcar, and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered."

If you are at a normal intersection it would be nearly impossible for both left-turning cars to turn behind each other while also staying as close as possible to the center line. At least one car would need to steer away from the center line to get enough clearance to avoid a collision with the opposing vehicle. Therefore, in order to comply with these procedures, these vehicles should turn in front of one another.

This answer is for the normal perpendicular intersection. There are roadways where the roadway “jogs” at the intersection or the roadway does not intersect at 90 degrees. For these roadways the answer may be different depending on the dynamics of the specific intersection.

Keith Disselkoen is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Lakeview Post. If you have a question for Trooper Disselkoen, you can email him at asktrooperkeith@gmail.com.